Educators' Collection of Resources on Microbial Life Exposed to High Levels of Radiation

This microbe, called Halobacterium, may hold the key to protecting astronauts from one of the greatest threats they would face during a mission to Mars: space radiation. The harsh radiation of interplanetary space can penetrate astronauts' bodies, damaging the DNA in their cells, which can cause cancer and other illnesses. DNA damage is also behind cancers that people suffer here on Earth. Photo and excerpt taken from http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/10sep_radmicrobe.htm